Premium
Connective tissue growth factor and cardiac fibrosis
Author(s) -
Daniels A.,
Van Bilsen M.,
Goldschmeding R.,
Van Der Vusse G. J.,
Van Nieuwenhoven F. A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2008.01936.x
Subject(s) - ctgf , connective tissue , cardiac fibrosis , fibrosis , extracellular matrix , medicine , heart failure , matricellular protein , growth factor , myocardial fibrosis , biomarker , pathology , cardiology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , receptor
Cardiac fibrosis is a major pathogenic factor in a variety of cardiovascular diseases and refers to an excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components in the heart, which leads to cardiac dysfunction and eventually overt heart failure. Evidence is accumulating for a crucial role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in fibrotic processes in several tissues including the heart. CTGF orchestrates the actions of important local factors evoking cardiac fibrosis. The central role of CTGF as a matricellular protein modulating the fibrotic process in cardiac remodelling makes it a possible biomarker for cardiac fibrosis and a potential candidate for therapeutic intervention to mitigate fibrosis in the heart.